According to charging documents, Hagerstown City Police officers responded to the Slavens' home at 4:57 a.m. Thursday. Colten Slavens had a 6- to 8-inch cut on his abdomen and another large cut on his left shoulder.
After interviewing family members, including Colten Slavens, police said that Colten and Dustin Slavens were playing a video game when an argument erupted. Dustin Slavens punched his older brother in the face, then grabbed an electric cord from the video game console and wrapped it around his brother's neck, trying to strangle him, according to charging documents.
At one point, the brothers' mother, Coreena Chevai Reese, 38, tried to break up the altercation, but Dustin Slavens grabbed a candlestick holder and hit her in the head with it, according to charging documents.
When Colten broke free, Dustin Slavens went to the kitchen and grabbed a paring knife, which he used to cut his brother, according to charging documents.
Before police arrived, Dustin Slavens was taken to Washington County Hospital to be treated for cuts on his fingers. In the District Court hearing Thursday, he had bandages on the first and middle fingers of his right hand.
During the hearing, Dustin Slavens said he also had a pending trial for a second-degree assault charge in juvenile court.
Hagerstown City Police said Colten Slavens also was wanted in Washington County Circuit Court on a warrant for probation violation for initial charges of underage drinking. He was released on $1,000 bond.
